Why do people photoshop their pics?

[imported_jgv]

Shouldn`t the results of their work be enough? Cause if they aren`t there no reason to mention them.



My opinion...

[Patrick]

Great thread....

We should ONLY see what you see in your final efforts....I dont agree with enhancements........Polarizing is one thing, that has long been considered acceptable (from what I understand) in the photography industry as non enhancing, and only "junk" filtering.....

[square]

I think it is fine to photochop. Photographers argue this issue constantly, and many points of view exist. I think an individual should identify major photochops and fakes. But in the end, the picture is telling you what the photographer wants.



I belong to a photo club which has judged contests. A catagory was created called "photoshop enhancements not possible in the darkroom." Most of the time, someone in the audience will explain how some complicated photoshop creation could have been created in a darkroom. The tools in photoshop mimic darkroom techniques, but are much easier to accomplish.



None of this was an issue before photoshop, but manipulation in the darkroom was and is common - and very few cared.



So, in my opinion, a photo represents what the photographer wants you to see. Manipulation in the viewfinder -- the act of picture taking, and manipulation by darkroom or by photochop are all the same thing.



Lou

[Nagchampa]

I see no problem with it as long as people are representing their pictures correctly. It is when people start removing defects in their paint and enhancing reflections passing it off as authentic when I have a problem.

[imported_jgv]

Originally posted by Nagchampa

It is when people start removing defects in their paint and enhancing reflections passing it off as authentic when I have a problem.



This is the reason of this thread! :nono

[shaf]

Interesting thread. I`ve been kinda wondering what`s okay and what`s not recently. So do you guys think less "invasive" touch-ups like gamma/brightness correction and colour balance are fair game? :nixweiss



I agree that some enhancements cause misrepresentation, but where`s the limit....

[SoTex]

I only enhanced the background (didn`t want people to see the dead grass) and my license plate.



http://home.earthlink.net/~theklecks/_uimages/taurus4sale.jpg



As has been mentioned earlier, I think as long as people don`t misrepresent, then there should be no problem.

[C. Charles Hahn]

I have no problem with people taking stuff out of the background of a pic or blacking out their liscence plate, but if you start messing with the subject (in this case, a car and its finish) and misrepresenting it when I get angered... I look at the pics on this site to help me decide what methods/equipment/products/methods may work better/best for detailing tasks. If what I`m seeing isnt accurate to the "real results" then the stuff posted here is of no use to me whatsoever.

[imported_jgv]

I know not everyone has a great 4Meg pixel digital camera, but what I don`t like is to see those before and after pics where the background looks detailed and shiny aswell on the after pics ;)

[cerdas]

I had fun photochopping my pic (http://www.autopia.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=614&papass=&sort=1) , it just started as an experiment so that I could check out a new grill, and just took off.



Are there any specific photos that are bothering you? Are they posted on Autopia?

[imported_jgv]

Great re-touch.



It`s not this kind of pics that brings me down. What brings me down are those that makes me think those kind of results are only possible on pics, not on real life.

[thevolvoguy]

What kind of feeling is it when you enhance a picture for reflections and get praised?



The praise is not for your detailing, its for your photoshop skills. If you post enhanced pics here, you should find another form for that.



Just my 2 cents. :nixweiss

[imported_jgv]

By the way, only now I realized this thread was moved to this forum. I didn`t intend to post it here, as it was related to false pics that usually show in the big forums.



My intention was never to discuss technics to improve pics, but, to complain against the less realistic detailers that lead the honest ones to believe they`ll never be able to acomplish the results shown in those touched pics.



As this thread is of no interest for the detail, I`ll shut myself from it, I don`t want to discuss photography, for now, I just wanted to make my point.

[Patrick]

I have to admit, Im suspicious of "certain" pics within this arena. And I keep my opinions to myself regarding it. Im here to learn and not to judge, but like an earlier reply stated, if your misrepresenting your picture, your misrepresenting a product, that im sure youve recommended. Your not doing any members on here, any favors, but probably setting us a back a few bucks, as well as discouraging our efforts. What we get in our garage, and what you get on your desktop, or file away as a "favorite" are not one in the same. And Im strictly speaking of color and depth, and anything to enhance shine.....

[Jngrbrdman]

The only thing I use it for other than fun is to clean up stuff that I can`t fix on the car. Stuff like curbed up hubcaps or the occasional gouge on the front end from hitting a curb or something. I`m not changing what I took a picture of. I`m just fixing things that detract from what I was trying to focus on and that`s the overall car.



There are actually some incredibly talented people who can take a car and chop it to make it look like whatever they want. The skill of some people make me distrust a lot of what I see in magazines and online. I know that if they wanted a picture of their car on a beach somewhere then they could do it. If they wanted to see a body kit or a new paint scheme on their car then they could do it. Its pretty amazing what some people can do. Its pure art.